CHURCH HEADS HOUNDED

Chronicle (Levin), 6 October 1949, Page 5

CHURCH HEADS HOUNDED

(N.Z.P.A.

— Reuter.

Evidence Of Further Trials InSecrecy

Copyright )

Received Wednesday, 7 p.m. NEW YORK, Oct. 4. The United States today told United Nations that, according to reliable reports, a second group of Protestant chjirchmen was secretly tried and con.demned in Bulgaria last July. Mr. Benjamin Cohen, United States delegate, told the second political commitee that the ttial was held in secrecy, apparently from fear of worldwide reaction such as followed the triai of the 15 pastors in Mareh.. Mr. Cohen said: "The usual paraphenalia, including ' conf essions ' recit- , ed by defendants, were again present. These trials are a filrther manifestation of the obvious determination ofi the Bulgarian Government to destroy the independence of these Protestant sects, the integrity of their religious faith, and to break their norma! ties with the Christian world." Mr. Cohen spoke in the debate on an Australian proposal that the General Assembly should find that human rights j and the fundamental freedoms are being violated in Hungary, Bulgaria and Rumania. The Australian representative, Mr. N. J. O. Makin, asked the political committee to consider the appointment of a committee of investigation. He said attempts by Britain and the United States to deal with allegations against Hungary and Bulgaria through the machinery established by the peace treaties with those countries, had made no progress whatsoever. Mr. Makin said evidence had already been produced to show that church trials in Hungary and Bulgaria were manifestations of a movement toward the "alarming suppression" of human rights and the fundamental freedoms. There was a prima facie case that the Rumanian Government had also been guilty of these violations. In Rumania the administration of justice had been perverted to fit the purposes of the Government and the Rumanian Government had completely subordinated aii religious activity to the control of the State. Sir Carl Berendsen (New Zealand) said the replies given by Bulgaria,. Hungary and Rumania to the Notes of the United States and Britain, had aroused serious misgivings. "The attitude of these Governments that they alone should decide whether they were f ulfilling their international obligations, is palpably absurd. Since a dispute cleayly exists, the articles of the peace treaties should obviously be applied. " Sir Carl Berendsen gave notice of New Zealand Js intention to support the reference of any legal questions to the International Court and added: "The Assembly must frankly face the iSsue of what it oan and will do to the fami"lies who need help, whose own voiees are muted, and whose only opportunity to enjoy those freedoms depends in great degree upon us. " Mr. Benjamin Cohen said. United States would urge that the InternaAional, Co_u.rt of Justice be asked for an advisory opinion on the legal questions regarding the applicability of treaty procedures. The commitee adopted by 41 votes to nil, with 15 abstentions, the suggestion by Australia that the° Rumanian Government should be invited to send a representative to put its .views to tne committee.